Larkspur ferry riders should expect to pay $2 to park at the terminal beginning Jan. 6 after a Golden Gate Bridge committee approved the fee Thursday.

The bridge board is expected to give final approval Friday. The move would generate $400,000 a year for the cash-strapped district, which has a $142 million, five-year deficit. It is also looking to raise bridge tolls.

The first-ever fee approved by the bridge district Transportation Committee would be in effect from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. The fee would not be collected on weekends or on seven holidays. Those who do not pay would be subject to a $45 fine.

"We think we have struck a balance with something that is reasonable for our customers," said Ron Downing, director of planning for the bridge district, noting the fee is in line with what other Bay Area transit operators charge.

The district will offer a $20 monthly parking pass under the plan recommended Thursday. That would drop the fee to $1 day.

Bridge officials are looking to implement the fee as a way to generate revenue and encourage people to find other ways to the ferry terminal beyond parking at the lot. Parking is now free. There are 1,800 spaces provided to ferry riders and all those are often filled by 8:30 a.m. weekdays.

District officials have been discussing charging for parking for years, and appear finally poised to act.

The district would use the "Parkmobile" mobile payment system. Customers would register for free and use the Internet, a toll-free telephone service or download a mobile app for the iPhone, Android, Windows or Blackberry smartphone to pay.

Parkmobile transactions are linked to the license plate number of the vehicle parking in the lot. There would be no need to display tickets on a dashboard or require a parking stall number assignment. The app would be used for up to two years in a pilot program.

"Our customers are enthused about it because they don't have to stand in line and feed dollars into a machine," Downing said. "It's very easy to use."

There also will be options for people who prefer to pay by cash.

"We are making arrangements so people will be able to pay the concessionaire on the boat for those individuals who have dollar bills crumpled up in their pockets," said Denis Mulligan, the district's general manager.